Tag: #MAPS

New in Maps: Inspiration curated with Gemini, enhanced navigation and more

For nearly 20 years, Google Maps has helped people understand and navigate the world — and today, Google is announcing that more than 2 billion users turn to Maps each month because of their fresh, comprehensive map. By using AI to analyze billions of images, alongside data from local partners and our community, we’re able to make over 100 million updates to the map every single day. So whether you’re traveling the world or across town, you’re seeing the most up-to-date information possible.

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From fuel-efficient routes to Immersive View, AI has helped us build new experiences for over a decade. And now, we’re transforming Maps with the power of Gemini models, helping you get answers to complex questions about the world.

Ask Maps for inspiration curated with Gemini
People already turn to Maps to get ideas for places to go and things to do. Now, we’re making it even easier to get inspiration curated with Gemini: all you need to do is ask Maps.
Say a friend is visiting and you need to plan an activity. Just ask Maps for “things to do with friends at night” to get ideas curated with Gemini — like checking out a speakeasy or live music. Find out what people like about a place by reading the helpful review summarized with Gemini — especially convenient when you’re pressed for time. If a place catches your eye and you want to learn more about it, like whether it has outdoor seating or a quiet atmosphere, just ask Maps questions about a place to get relevant answers in a snap.
All of these features are made possible thanks to our Gemini’s powerful creation, reasoning and summarization capabilities — grounded in our trusted data about 250 million places around the world and insights from the Maps community. These features start rolling out in the U.S. on Android and iOS this week. You’ll also see similar experiences in the coming months on Search — including AI-powered review summaries and the option to ask detailed questions about places.
Check out how we’re also helping developers, enterprises, and cities with our mapping technology and Gemini capabilities.

Take the stress out of driving
We’re introducing a major update to make your entire drive easier from start to finish. It’s now simpler to explore along your route before you get on the road — just get directions and tap “add stops.” You’ll see top landmarks, attractions, scenic spots and dining options to help you plan the perfect drive.
Sometimes driving in unfamiliar areas with multiple lanes, forks, and exits can be confusing. To help you anticipate these, our enhanced navigation will show you lanes, crosswalks and road signs clearly on the map. And because no one likes finding out they need to merge at the last minute, we’ll show you exactly which lane you should be in: just follow the blue line in the lane markers while navigating.


We’re also giving you more ways to keep you and your fellow drivers informed. As the winter months approach for many of us, you’ll now be able to see and report weather disruptions along your route — including flooded, unplowed and low-visibility roads.
Lastly, we know your journey isn’t over until you make it to the door of your destination. Now, with updates to arrival guidance, in addition to lighting up your building and entrance, we’ll also show you nearby parking lots and remind you to save your parking so you don’t forget. Once you’re parked, you can get walking directions from your car to the entrance — and even enter Street View or AR walking navigation so you can orient yourself quickly.
The ability to explore along your route, see and report weather disruptions, and our updated arrival guidance start rolling out globally on Android and iOS this week. Enhanced navigation starts rolling out next month on Android and iOS in over 30 metros — with plans to expand to more places over time.
We also have exciting updates coming to Waze, including Conversational Reporting — be sure to check those out, too.

Explore with Immersive View’s biggest update yet
With Immersive View, you can experience what stadiums, parks and routes look like using AI, imagery and computer vision — and even see what the weather and traffic conditions will be like on the day and time you’re planning to visit. Starting this week, Immersive View for places will expand to 150 cities globally, including in places like Brussels, Kyoto and Frankfurt. And we continue to add new categories of places to Immersive View, like college campuses — a great way to take your very own campus tour!
Immersive View for routes is also getting new details. Now, we’ll tell you where to park and highlight if you’ll encounter things like a complex turn along your route so you can be prepared. This update starts rolling out this week on Android and iOS wherever Immersive View for routes is available.
We can’t wait for you to try these updates out. From immersive experiences to inspiration curated with Gemini as well as a new, enhanced driving experience, Google Maps continues to transform how we navigate and explore the world.

Esri Ireland map tells the story of Irish dance

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map showcasing the rich history, diverse styles, and vibrant music of Irish dancing to celebrate International Irish Dance Day which falls this Sunday, 17th September.

Using Esri’s ArcGIS digital mapping system, the interactive map charts a captivating journey through the history of Irish dancing, tracing its roots all the way back to 400 AD. Explore pivotal milestones, learn about varying dance styles, hear some lively traditional music, and search for schools to hone your Irish dancing skills across the entire island. From beginners to championship contenders, opportunities to learn and perfect Irish dancing are abound around Ireland.

International Irish Dance Day was launched on 17th September 2020 and is midway to St. Patrick’s Day. It has since grown to unite people worldwide through their shared passion for Irish dance. Each year, individuals and dance schools across the globe showcase their incredible dancing skills by sharing engaging videos online.

This map also comes as preparations are underway to embrace the spirit of Culture Night on Friday, 22nd September. It will bring the timeless allure of Ireland’s traditional dance to life as the country comes together to celebrate culture, creativity and the arts.

Link to maps

Enhancing Education: The Power of Diagrams Across Various Subjects

Visual aids do a great job of facilitating understanding, engagement, and retention of complex concepts in a classroom. Among these aids, diagrams stand out as versatile tools that have the ability to simplify intricate ideas, making them accessible to learners across various subjects. For example, a blank Venn diagram template — Storyboard That can be used in math, literature, science, and social study classes. This article delves into the diverse types of diagrams and their impactful role in education across different subjects. 

1. Mind Maps in Literature and Language Arts

In the realm of literature and language arts, mind maps offer a dynamic way to explore themes, characters, and narrative structures. Mind maps visually represent the interconnectedness of different elements in a text, helping students grasp the underlying concepts. For instance, when studying a novel, learners can create mind maps that showcase character relationships, plot developments, and symbolic motifs. This approach encourages critical thinking and the synthesis of information.

Other than literature, mind maps can be used in: 

  • Biology: to understand interconnected ecosystems, food webs, and biological processes.
  • History: for mapping out the causes and effects of historical events.
  • Psychology: to visualize the connections between various psychological theories and concepts.
  • Business Studies: for brainstorming ideas, project planning, and visualizing business strategies.

2. Venn Diagrams in Mathematics

Mathematics is a subject that often involves understanding relationships and comparisons. Venn diagrams provide a powerful visual representation for depicting set relationships, overlaps, and differences. 

Whether exploring number theory, probability, or logic, students can use Venn diagrams to solve problems involving intersections and unions of sets. These diagrams encourage students to analyze and organize information systematically, promoting logical reasoning.

Other than math, Venn diagrams can be useful in:

  • Literature: to compare and contrast characters, themes, or ideas in different works.
  • Science: for categorizing organisms or elements based on shared characteristics.
  • Social Sciences: to analyze overlaps in demographic data or cultural phenomena.

3. Flowcharts in Computer Science

In the realm of computer science, where algorithms and processes are pivotal, flowcharts offer an indispensable tool for representing sequences of actions. Students can use flowcharts to illustrate the step-by-step logic of coding algorithms, aiding in program design and debugging. By breaking down complex algorithms into digestible components, flowcharts enhance students’ problem-solving skills and algorithmic thinking.

Other fields where flowcharts fins use are:

  • Engineering: to represent the stages of a design or manufacturing process.
  • Physics: to visualize the sequence of steps in a scientific experiment.
  • Education: to plan out the structure of a curriculum or instructional sequence.

4. Chemical Diagrams in Science Subjects

Science subjects, such as chemistry, often involve understanding molecular structures and reactions. Chemical diagrams, including molecular models and Lewis dot structures, help students visualize complex molecules and their bonding patterns. 

These diagrams are particularly useful in teaching the spatial arrangement of atoms, which can be challenging to comprehend solely through text. Students can better grasp concepts like valence electrons and molecular shapes by interacting with these visual representations.

5. Geographical Maps in Social Studies

Geography is inherently spatial, making maps an essential tool for understanding the world. In social studies, maps aid students in comprehending historical events, cultural patterns, and geopolitical dynamics. From exploring trade routes in history to analyzing population distribution in the present, maps offer a comprehensive visual overview of complex data. 

Other subjects where maps can be used include: 

  • History: to analyze historical migration patterns, trade routes, and territorial changes.
  • Environmental Science: for visualizing ecosystems, biodiversity, and habitat distribution.
  • Sociology: to map out social disparities, urbanization, and cultural diffusion.
  • Economics: for analyzing global trade flows, resource distribution, and economic development.

6. Timeline Diagrams in History

History involves studying the progression of events over time, and timeline diagrams are an effective way to visualize historical narratives. Students can create timelines to showcase the sequence of significant events, historical periods, and their interconnections. 

This visual representation fosters a deeper understanding of cause-and-effect relationships and historical context. Moreover, timelines encourage students to critically assess the impact of individual events on larger historical trends.

7. Graphs and Charts in Economics and Statistics

Economics and statistics often involve analyzing numerical data to identify trends and patterns. Graphs and charts, such as bar graphs, line graphs, and pie charts, are valuable tools for presenting and interpreting data in an accessible manner. 

Students can use these visual representations to analyze economic indicators, market trends, and statistical distributions. Understanding how to interpret graphs equips students with the skills to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights.

Wrapping Up

In the educational landscape, the integration of diagrams transcends disciplinary boundaries, offering students a diverse array of tools to enhance understanding and learning. From mind maps that unravel complex literary narratives to graphs that unveil economic trends, diagrams are essential for making abstract concepts concrete. By embracing diagrams, educators empower students to think critically, solve problems, and appreciate the interconnectedness of various subjects. 

 

Google Maps launches Immersive View in Dublin.

Google Maps is expanding Immersive View to new cities and landmarks, introducing a simpler way to navigate, and updating Recents on desktop Google Maps. The great news is this includes Dublin and for those who will now begin their holidays or those who will travel to Dublin should check the latest update out, check out the news below.

In many parts of the world, summer is here  —- which often means time for trip planning and exploration. Today, we’re sharing three new updates from Google Maps to help you make the most of your summer adventures.

Immersive View: rolling out to new cities and available for 500+ landmarks around the 

Earlier this year, we launched Immersive View to transform the way you explore — using AI to fuse together billions of images and create a multidimensional view of the world with trusted information layered on top. Today, we’re starting to roll out Immersive View in four new cities: Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence and Venice — and are expanding it to over 500 iconic landmarks around the world, from Prague Castle to the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Android and iOS.

So if you’re planning a trip to Boston and want to see the historic Faneuil Hall, you can get a jump start on familiarizing yourself with the area before you visit. Just search for it in Google Maps and tap on the first video to virtually soar over the building and find places nearby. With the time slider, you can see what the weather will be like at different times of day and how crowded it will be so you can plan ahead. And where we have data available, you can peek inside of restaurants and cafes to help you decide whether you want to make a reservation — thanks to an advanced AI technique called neural radiance fields, or NeRF — which was developed right here at Google.

Track your trip progress with glanceable directions, which start rolling out this month

While we love the rich details of Immersive View, we also know that sometimes less is more — especially when you’re somewhat familiar with your route and just need to see when the next turn is. That’s why we’re launching glanceable directions in Maps, helping you easily track your trip progress right from your lock screen or route overview.

Once you opt in, just request directions to your destination and get going. You’ll see updated ETAs and where to make your next turn — information that was previously only available in comprehensive navigation mode. And if you decide to take another path, we’ll update your trip automatically. Glanceable directions start rolling out globally this month for walking, cycling and driving modes on Android and iOS.

Stay organized and plan trips with new updates to Recents on desktop 

One of the most difficult parts of planning a trip is keeping track of all the places you want to visit — especially if you’re visiting multiple cities. We built Recents on desktop to help with just that. It automatically organizes places you’ve researched into a handy highlight on the left side of your screen when you open Maps.

Now, with new updates rolling out globally next month, we’ll save places in your Recent highlights even after you close your Google Maps window — so you can take a break from planning and come back to it later without ever losing your progress. You can remove places you’ve viewed, plan multiple trips at once and share a selection of places — like attractions or hotels — with your travel buddy to get their thoughts. Once you know where you want to visit, select three or more destinations, click “directions,” and Maps will even create a custom route that hits all your stops and saves it to your Recents. Who’s up for a summer road trip!

Whether you’re hitting up local gems, a national park or flying halfway around the world, let Google Maps be your ultimate travel companion this year.

Most visited Places of Interest on Street View in Ireland as Google Street view turns 15

Google Street view turns 15 and like me I use it quite often and you may have also noticed some nice Jaguar cars going around with a contraption on top, well that is Google if you did not know.. So where is the most visited places of interest on Google Street view.. Let’s have a look then read on some more about Google Street view

Most visited Places of Interest on Street View in Ireland
1. Dublin Castle
2. Billy Byrne 1798 Monument
3.  Dublin Airport
4. Phoenix Park
5. The Temple Bar Pub
6. Guinness Storehouse
7. Aviva Stadium
8. Trinity College Dublin
9. Molly Malone Statue
10. Dog’s Bay
Most visited Museums on Street View in Ireland
1.Kilmainham Gaol
2. Titanic Experience Cobh
3. Dublinia
4.Muckross House
5. EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
6. Drombeg Stone Circle
7. The National Wax Museum Plus
8. Irish Museum of Modern Art
9. MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland
10. Bunmahon Geological Park

Fifteen years ago, Street View began as a far-fetched idea from Google co-founder Larry Page to build a 360-degree map of the entire world. Fast forward to today: There are now over 220 billion Street View images from over 100 countries and territories — a new milestone — allowing people to fully experience what it’s like to be in these places right from their phone or computer. And Street View doesn’t just help you virtually explore, it’s also critical to our mapping efforts — letting you see the most up-to-date information about the world, while laying the foundation for a more immersive, intuitive map.

While that’s all worth celebrating, we aren’t stopping there. Today, we’re unveiling Street View’s newest camera, giving you more ways to explore historical imagery, and taking a closer look at how Street View is powering the future of Google Maps.

Bringing Street View to more places with our newest camera

From the back of a camel in the Arabian desert to a snowmobile zipping through the Arctic, we’ve gotten creative with the ways we’ve used Street View cameras to capture imagery. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that our world changes at lightning speed. Our hardware is one way we’re able to keep up with the pace.

In addition to our Street View car and trekker, we’re piloting a new camera that will fully roll out next year to help us collect high-quality images in more places. This new camera takes all the power, resolution and processing capabilities that we’ve built into an entire Street View car, and shrinks it down into an ultra-transportable camera system that’s roughly the size of a house cat. But unlike house cats, it’s ready to be taken to remote islands, up to the tops of mountains or on a stroll through your local town square.

Here’s a quick look at the new camera system:

  • It weighs less than 15 pounds. This means it can be shipped anywhere. This is especially handy when we work with partners around the world to capture imagery of traditionally under-mapped areas — like the Amazon jungle.
  • It’s extremely customizable. Previously, we needed to create an entirely new camera system whenever we wanted to collect different types of imagery. But now, we can add on to this modular camera with components like lidar — laser scanners — to collect imagery with even more helpful details, like lane markings or potholes. We can add these features when we need them, and remove them when we don’t.
  • It can fit on any car. Our new camera can be attached to any vehicle with a roof rack and operated right from a mobile device — no need for a specialized car or complex processing equipment. This flexibility will make collections easier for partners all over the world, and allow us to explore more sustainable solutions for our current fleet of cars — like plug-in hybrids or fully electric vehicles. You’ll start seeing our new camera in fun Google colors alongside our iconic Street View cars and trekkers next year.

Traveling back in time with Street View 

Street View is all about capturing the world as it changes, and it’s also a powerful way to reminisce about the past. Starting today on Android and iOS globally, it’s now easier than ever to travel back in time right from your phone. Here’s how it works:

When you’re viewing Street View imagery of a place, tap anywhere on the photo to see information about the location. Then tap “See more dates” to see the historical imagery we’ve published of that place, dating back to when Street View launched in 2007. Browse each of the images to see a digital time capsule that shows how a place has changed — like how the Vessel in New York City’s Hudson Yards grew from the ground up.

Building a more helpful, immersive map 

Street View is also an essential part of how we map the world. Here’s a look at how imagery helps us do that:

  • Updates to business information that reflect your changing world. We use Street View imagery coupled with AI to make helpful updates to Google Maps — such as adding newly opened businesses, surfacing new hours at your favorite restaurants and updating speed limit information. In fact, over the last three years, AI has helped us make over 25 billion updates to Maps so you can be confident that the information you’re seeing is as fresh and up-to-date as possible.
  • Easier than ever navigation, indoors and out. Street View imagery powers popular features like Live View, which allows you to use your phone’s camera to overlay navigation instructions on top of the real world so you can walk to your destination in a snap.
  • Immersive view helps you know before you go. Thanks to advances in computer vision and AI over the last several years, we’re able to fuse together billions of Street View and aerial images to create a rich, digital model of places around the world. With our new immersive view launching later this year, you can easily glide down to street level on Maps and even check out the inside of a business as if you were walking around.

In celebration of Street View’s birthday, you’ll have the opportunity to make your navigation icon a celebratory Street View car – just tap the chevron when you’re in driving navigation. And on desktop, our beloved Pegman – who you can pick up and drop anywhere in Maps to see Street View – will be dressed up in a birthday hat and balloons for the celebration.

To keep the celebration going, check out our newest collections of places like The Pyramids of Meroë in Sudan and Les Invalides in France, popular spots to explore with Street View and some of our all-time favorite Street View images to date. Oh the places you’ll go!

Esri Ireland creates a digital map of all libraries around Ireland for International Literacy Day #InternationalLiteracyDay

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map of all of Ireland’s libraries to celebrate International Literacy Day today.

Built using Esri’s ArcGIS digital mapping system, the map details the location of all of the libraries around Ireland as well as their coordinates. The map intends to highlight the facilities available for the public while promoting lifelong learning.

International Literacy Day, created by the United Nations, is celebrated to highlight the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights. 773 million young people and adults are affected by non-literacy worldwide. The theme for 2021 is “Literacy for a human-centered recovery: Narrowing the digital divide”. This aims to highlight the importance of literacy and digital skills and how technology can enable inclusive learning.

Click on the image below to access the map..

 

Irish Google Maps Trends and Updates for the Festive Season. #GoogleMaps #Trends #Shopping

Google Maps has analysed data before and during the pandemic to see how people have been getting around, where they are spending their time and what type of food they’re craving. If you have not already known you can now check shops online to see what the flow is like prior leaving your house which is also handy as you will see just below is a live example for my local Dunnes Stores and I use this anytime I need to venture out to get some things done.

Interest in cycling is up 

Across the country, people are opting for solo ways to get around safely. Unsurprisingly, driving continues to be the most popular mode of transportation while cycling has  emerged as an alternative – interest in cycling has increased 32% percent nationwide and 36% in Dublin compared to pre-pandemic days.

Social distancing in a winter wonderland 

 

Popular times and live busyness information in Google Maps have always been essential festive season tools, helping you avoid unwanted crowds. These tools help you know in advance when places are going to be busy so you can save precious time and also social distance.

So if you find yourself in need of a caffeine fix to tackle your Christmas errands, make sure to avoid coffee shops on Saturday mornings at Midday when coffee shops across Ireland  tend to be most packed. And if you’re planning to shop for your Christmas feast, avoid your local supermarket on Saturday afternoons between 1-2 p.m. when you’re likely to encounter long lines.

Chinese is the most searched cuisine in Ireland

With indoor dining shut for many months of the year and indoor dining capacity reduced, search interest in Take-aways has soared throughout the year. As for what people are eating, Chinese is the most-searched for cuisine followed by Indian, Kebabs and Italian.

Time to embrace the outdoors

Across the country, people are using Google Maps to search for parks, waterfalls, beaches and gardens within driving or walking distance.  While searches for outdoor locations decreased by 456% in April, when the toughest restrictions were in place May was the most popular month for outdoor searches with an increase of 84% in searches. The Top Outdoor search queries for Dublin are:

  • Phoenix Park

  • Marlay Park

  • Bushy Park

  • Saint Anne’s Park

  • Ticknock Forest

The festive season is going to look a little different this year because of COVID-19. Family gatherings may be smaller or take place virtually to make sure everyone stays safe and healthy. Indoor activities could  move outdoors. And the holiday abroad might become an Irish road trip to discover some  local hidden gems. But even still, people are looking for ways to experience winter and finding new ways to be together.

No matter what plans people have this winter these Google Maps tips will help them to stay informed, stay connected, and save time.

Stay informed even while shopping and travelling

 

  • Check out how busy a place is: Popular times and live busyness information can tell you how crowded a place typically is on a given day or time–and even how busy it is right now. This is especially handy during the era of social distancing, Check out busyness on Maps before you head to a restaurant, store, business, or place to avoid holiday crowds and long waits.

 

  • (New!) Find the latest information about COVID-19: Are you visiting family in another country? Use the COVID layer on Maps to quickly see how cases are trending in the area. You can also access quick links to authoritative local resources so you know at a glance if there are specific guidelines or restrictions in the area you’re visiting.

 

  • Quickly understand safety precautions from a business: If you’re eating out or getting a head start on your Christmas shopping, you can easily learn more about what safety precautions a business is taking. Find out if they’re sanitizing between customers, if there’s safety dividers at checkout and if they require staff to have regular temperature checks.

 

Connect with family and friends this season 

 

 

  • Meet up with ease with Live View: If you’re meeting up with friends for a socially distant gathering, it can be hard to pinpoint where they are. If your loved one has chosen to share their location with you, you can use augmented reality in Live View to see where and how far away they are–with overlaid arrows and directions that help you know where to go.

 

Save time so you can spend more time enjoying the festivities

 

  • Easily find a local restaurant offering take-away: If you’re taking a low-key approach to festivities this year and opting to order in instead of going out or cooking an elaborate meal, Google Maps can help. When searching on your phone for restaurants nearby, you can easily sort by places that offer takeaway or delivery and place your order directly from Google Maps.

Ride easy with new biking features in Google Maps #Cycling #GoogleMaps #BikeShare

Summer is in full swing and people across the world are opting to hop on their bikes. Coming in at no. 22, Ireland ranks among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of biking directions usage in Google Maps.  Since February, requests for cycling directions in Google Maps have jumped by 69 percent—hitting an all-time high last month.

In Ireland, Google Maps have seen requests for cycling directions increase by 76% and search interest for “bike repair near me” more than doubled over the past year. Whether people are hitting the road to get their heart pumping or commute safely during COVID-19, Google Maps is making it easier for cyclists everywhere to get on their own bike or a shared one.

Ten years ago, Google introduced biking directions in Google Maps. Now it’s available in nearly 30 countries around the world and millions of people use it every day. As biking habits change, especially as things evolve with COVID-19, we’re constantly updating this information to help you uncover the most reliable bike route.

 

Raise the (handle)bar on biking routes

 

To give you the most up-to-date bike route, Google Maps uses a combination of machine learning, complex algorithms and an understanding of real-world conditions based on imagery and data from government authorities and community contributions. Google Maps also consider various forms of bike lanes and nearby streets that might be less friendly for your two wheels (like tunnels, stairs and poor surface conditions) so you can have the best and smoothest biking route. You can also see how flat or steep your route will be, so you’ll know if you’re in for an easy breezy ride or one that will really get the heart pumping.

 

However, the best route can always change and we are hard at work to reflect new information. For instance, due to COVID-19, many cities are adding and widening bike lanes to encourage cycling and accommodate more riders. Google Maps is already working to integrate hundreds of thousands of new bike lanes in the coming months. Local government agencies can provide this data through the Geo Data Upload tool to have their latest bike lane information reflected in Google Maps.

 

Gear up for new docked bikeshare directions in 10 cities

 

As more people choose to cycle, they’re buying new bikes, fixing up old ones and turning to bike sharing options. In fact, worldwide search interest for “bike repair near me” hit an all-time high this month—more than double what it was last year.

 

For riders opting to use bike sharing, Google Maps is rolling out more detailed information. Over the last several years, Google have launched a dockless bike and scooter integration with Lime in more than 100 cities and introduced real-time docked bikeshare information to help travellers in select cities locate bike sharing stations and real-time availability. With bikeshare providers seeing sharp increases in usage during COVID-19, it’s even more important to quickly and easily check how many bikes are available at the station you’re headed toward and if there are docks available to drop off your bike near your destination.

 

Starting today, when you look up biking directions, you’ll see end-to-end directions that include docked bikeshare information. Steps will include detailed walking directions to bikeshare stations near your starting point along with live bike availability, turn-by-turn cycling directions to the bikeshare station closest to your destination with live dock availability, and, finally, walking directions from there to your final destination. And, for some cities, Maps will show you links to open the relevant bikeshare app to book and unlock the bike.

Rediscover the beauty of Ireland with Google Maps. #Ireland #Maps #Google

As we journey into Phase 3, people are ready to escape their back gardens and are looking for a holiday. As Government advice continues to advise against all non-essential foreign travel now is the time to plan a staycation and rediscover everything Ireland has to offer.  Whether you’re planning a staycation at home with day trips to local sights or  going further afield for a longer trip, Google Maps is on hand to help staycationers rediscover the best of Ireland.

 

From isolated beaches to breathtaking mountains Ireland has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and our cities, towns and villages are filled with museums and attractions that can keep all the family occupied for days. Google Maps has everything you need to plan the ultimate road trip at your fingertips, with Local Guides advice on hand along the way to help find the best route, best view and best place to have dinner and drink after a long day of sightseeing. Google Maps is the ultimate travel companion whether you’re driving across world famous routes like The Ring of Kerry, discovering the soaring Cliffs of Moher, braving the Wild Atlantic Way, uncovering the history of Newgrange or spending a day delving into Irish history through the many museums in the Capital.

 

These Google Maps features will help people have a staycation to remember this summer:

Create lists so you can keep track of your favorite places and share them with friends.

 

Find hidden gems: Use the Explore tab find the best restaurants, sights and events happening in the area.Find things to do and places to eat based on your unique interests and preferences.

 

Go Handsfree Keep your focus on the road by using voice commands on Google Maps. Just say “OK Google, find petrol stations” or “ Show alternate routes” to get the information you need, hands free.

 

Offline maps: No data? No problem. You can still find your way even if you have spotty reception or an expensive data plans. You don’t need data on a road trip, you can download a map of an area so you can see directions and use turn by turn navigation even when you can’t get online.

 

Plan activities as a group: With group lists in Google Maps, planning travel with others is simple and efficient, giving you the ability to create an itinerary together by adding places to go and things to do as a group.

 

Plan ahead: Look for restaurants doing takeaway, dine-in or delivery. COVID-19 has forced many restaurants to change their operating models or even temporarily close, which makes planning ahead even more important. With Google Maps you can look for local restaurants around you that are open, offering takeaway, delivery, or no-contact delivery.

 

Remember where you parked: After navigating somewhere, use Google Maps to save your parking location so you never forget where you parked again.

 

Add detours to your route: With Google Maps you can easily search for places along your route while in navigation mode, so you can find the nearest store and get back on the road as quickly as possible.

 

Explore more: Maximize the Google Maps search bar and Explore tab. Use the search bar in Google Maps to look for specific things like “scenic spots”  or “trailhead.”

 

 Find your nearest Petrol Station: Running low on petrol or just need a break? Use Google Maps to find your nearest stop so you can rest and refuel during a long drive. You can also use Google Maps to search for nearby Petrol prices to get the best deal.

 

Don’t get lost: If you’re exploring on foot, a beta feature called Live View can help you figure out which way to walk with arrows and directions clearly overlaid on the map. Live View allows you to use augmented reality (AR) to better see which way to walk. Arrows and directions are placed in the real world to guide your way.

 

Control your music and podcasts without ever leaving Google Maps: No road trip is complete without music. With Google Maps, you can access Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music while in navigation mode so you can keep your focus on the road.

 

Never miss your stop again: Don’t want to drive? No problem. Use Google Maps to get transport navigation times, ETAs and a notification that tells you when to transfer or get off your bus or train, so you can stop worrying about missing your stop and start enjoying the sights.

 

Make ordering at restaurants a snap: It’s not always easy to decide what to order when you’re in a new place and you’re less familiar with the menu. With the popular dishes feature, you can quickly find out what the must-try items on the menu are.